Youth-Guided Youth Engagement: Participatory Action Research (PAR) With High-Risk,Marginalized Youth |
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| Authors: | Yoshitaka Iwasaki Jane Springett Pushpanjali Dashora Anne-Marie McLaughlin Tara-Leigh McHugh Youth YEG Team |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canadaiwasaki@ualberta.ca;3. Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;4. Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;5. Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;6. Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Engaging youth who live with high-risk, marginalized conditions presents a significant challenge in our society, considering the prevalence of disconnect and distrust they often experience within their social environments/systems. Yet, meaningful youth engagement is a key concept not only for youth development, but also for a systems change to more effectively support high-risk youth and families. This article presents a framework of youth engagement developed over 9 months, using participatory action research (PAR) with 16 youth leaders in a community-based research team. Although this framework has incorporated the youth leaders’ lived experiences, talents, and voices, positive youth development (PYD) and social justice youth development (SJYD) have theoretically contextualized our research. Youth leaders guided the framework's development, including the identification of key themes/dimensions, definitions, and practical examples. The framework's three components—“Basis” (philosophy and principles), “What” (goals/outcomes), and “How” (actions/processes/pathways to change)—are supported by nine themes described in this article. |
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| Keywords: | at-risk youth community engagement high-risk youth youth development youth engagement |
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